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Owl Decoy

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery
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Object Details

Artist
Unidentified
Luce Center Label
North American hunters have used decoys for centuries. Native Americans made decoys from reeds, clay, and stuffed skins to lure migrating birds within range of their arrows or spears. European pioneers adopted this technique, and by the early nineteenth century both commercial and sport hunters used carved wooden decoys. Craftsmen shape and decorate decoys either to imitate the desired bird’s prey or “trick” them into thinking it is safe to land.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
early 20th century
Object number
1986.65.59
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Sculpture
Folk Art
Medium
carved and painted wood, leather, and glass
Dimensions
14 1/2 x 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. (36.8 x 13.3 x 13.3 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 28A
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Animal\bird\owl
Record ID
saam_1986.65.59
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk743b4f880-7190-4816-8650-c335cc2f73ee

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This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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